Page 36 of Bound

She smiles and all the light and warmth in the world is inher face. “I’m Meggie.”

A rush of emotion hits me at the sound of her name. Meggie.I pull her into my arms and hug her with all the strength I have left. After amoment, she winds her arms around my chest and holds me close. I don’t know whyI feel this way, but I know she saved me from something. A word to describe herleaps to my addled brain. It’s the only clear thing in my head.

“Wife,” I whisper in her ear.

It’s a prayer.

ChapterFifteen

Meg

I carefully draw the comb through Cian’s long,midnight-black hair. There are places where it’s tangled and matted. “Tell meif I hurt you.”

“It’s all right. It’s nice to be warm,” Cian murmurs, a longsigh making his chest move. “It’s a cold winter.”

It isn’t winter at all.

I glance back at Dante, who gives me a shrug.

“He doesn’t always know where he is or what year it is,”Dante says softly.

Dante sits on a sofa that has seen better days. Everythingabout the small cottage is threadbare and worn. Still, it’s warm and cozy. Ithas far more character than my apartment in Fort Worth.

I’m so far from that place now. I can’t even comprehend howfar away I am. I’m worlds away from that life I led.

How long will it be before that is the life that seems likea dream?

Cian feels real. His hair is silky smooth and beautiful.Well, it will be silky smooth when I’m done.

“This is the calmest I’ve seen him in a long time.” Dantesits back. “Just being near you is already helping.”

“I like her, Dante,” Cian says. He turns his head slightly,and I can see a vibrant smile on his face.

Oh, that smile can light up a room. My heart does this weirdfluttery thing, but I have to remember that he has issues.

It’s odd to be in the room with a man who looks exactly likeBeck yet he’s completely different. Beck is solid, and Cian seems frighteninglyfluid. It took time to get him into the house. He wanted to show me things.First, it was the garden. Apparently he thought he planted strawberries and hewanted to share them with me. When he couldn’t find any strawberries, he triedto take me to the palace so I could meet his mother and sister.

He’s so lost, and I’m not sure he can be found again.

“How are you feeling?” Dante asks.

Scared. Hopeful. Scared again. The fact that I haven’t seenBeck in a while is definitely part of the scare factor. “I’m in between foolingmyself that this is still some weird dream I’m going to wake up from andfeeling like I oddly belong here.”

It’s nothing more than the truth. After the initial shock, Islowed down and carefully studied the place. There’s a softness to the lighthere that calls to me. I’m not sure how to explain it, but there’s warmth andpeace to be had here if I want it, if I open myself to the experience.

There might be love here if I’m brave enough.

To be honest, I’m not sure about the whole two men thing.Especially now that I’ve met Beck’s brother. Cian seems more childlike thananything. Perhaps I don’t understand the situation fully. Perhaps Cian ismerely a family member to take care of. The “marriage” thing might be just alabel when it comes to Cian.

“You do belong here.” Cian’s hand comes up, catching mine.“You belong with us.”

Had Beck been the one saying it, his hand would have curledover mine possessively and I would feel his need. There’s nothing dark aboutCian. He’s being kind. He’s a lovely, sweet reflection of the man I’m coming toknow.

“Of course I do.” I use my free hand to pat his shoulder andhe sighs again, a sound of contentment before he turns back to the fire andlets me return to my task.

We’re quiet for a moment, the comforting crackle of the firethe only sound between us. Cian seems perfectly content to let me pull and tugon his hair until it’s smooth.

“There.” An unaccountable feeling of accomplishment flowsthrough me. “That’s much better.”